Lyrical Genius, Part I – Kevin Gilbert

It’s a shame, but it seems to me that a lot of songwriters don’t really work as hard on their lyrics as they do their music. Granted, there are exceptions, but so much of – particularly popular – music is made up of utter dreck, lyrically speaking. (Of course, a lot of the music blows, too.)

Even most of the words that are well-written are pretty lacking; they don’t really mean anything.

So I present the first in a series on songwriters that I feel deserve mention for the profundity that they display in their lyrical output. Enjoy!

KEVIN GILBERT

Here’s a guy who was troubled, for sure. And like many troubled, somewhat misunderstood artists, he was taken from us far too soon. But most of what he left behind was so deep, so powerful… his influence on me, my songwriting, my lyrics – it simply cannot be overstated. He is, for all intents and purposes, my musical hero. His music was original, yet hooky. His engineering and production skills were legendary among his peers. But I’m especially drawn to what he said.

His lyrics could be pensive, powerful, snarky, optomistic, intellectual, sarcastic, honest, simple, and profound – often all in the same song. There is so much to be read between the often simple lines of prose; you can tell he was well-read. He was a master of allusion, wordplay and clever puns.

Here, a few of my favorite stanzas.

from Goodness Gracious (from “Thud”)

Goodness Gracious my generation’s lostThey burned down all our bridgesbefore we had a chance to crossIs it the winter of our discontent or just an early frost?

Goodness Gracious of apathy I singThe baby boomers had it all and wasted everythingNow recess is almost overand they won’t get off the swing

Goodness Gracious we came in at the endNo sex that isn’t dangerous, no money left to spendWe’re the cleanup crew for partieswe were too young to attendGoodness Gracious me.

from Waiting (from “Thud”)

I’m waiting in the shadows with a chain around my wristI’m waiting with my best friend held firmly in my fistI’m waiting for my heroes to tell me what to dreamI’m waiting for my neighbors to tell me what’s obsceneI’m waiting for the apple, I’m waiting for the fallI’m waiting for a renaissance to electrify us all

from City Of The Sun (from “The Shaming of the True”)

The attendant at the Texaco saw the guitar case in my back seat and decided to impart his tragic tale He said: “I used to play in a band like you, we even made a record too”and sang a bar that hardly rang a bell Now I’m not one to make a lot of omens and premonitions and fleeting thoughts but I must admit that I tried to avoid his stare‘Cause I didn’t want to see him see himself in mewith the look of an extinguished flame that might be lurking there

Kevin Gilbert was a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, singer and audio engineer/producer. He was one of the founding members of the “Tuesday Music Club” which was the foundation for Sheryl Crow’s breakout record “Tuesday Night Music Club” which won accolades and awards (though Kevin saw little positive effect of Sheryl’s ascent to fame). He also worked with Madonna, Michael Jackson, Keith Emerson, Spock’s Beard, Jonatha Brooke, and many others. His solo release “Thud” is an amazing album even today (having been released over a decade ago) and his posthumously released rock opera “The Shaming of the True” is an under-recognized masterpiece. I urge you to check out his work. Now.